In the realm of South African football, the impact of social media cannot be overstated. From facilitating information dissemination to fostering community engagement, platforms like Twitter have become instrumental in shaping the discourse surrounding the beautiful game. In an exclusive interview with Lekoko, a prominent figure in Mzansi’s football social media landscape, we delve into the multifaceted role of social media in the local football scene.
Empowering Supporters Through Information
Lekoko underscores the transformative power of social media in providing supporters with unprecedented access to information. In a country where secrecy has long been the norm, social media serves as a catalyst for transparency, enabling fans to stay abreast of the latest developments in South African football. Despite the need to sift through the influx of content, Lekoko emphasizes the efficiency and immediacy of accessing authentic information, thereby enhancing supporter knowledge and engagement.
“Social media has impacted soccer in a positive way, in a sense that supporters are more informed, because South Africa is generally known as a country that safeguards or keeps secrets. There’s more information available to the supporters, so social media sharing of information is important. It’s just a matter of trying to filter out what’s real and what’s not real, but natural writing information is available more quicker and efficient. that is what he said on the impact of social media in Mzansi’s diski.”
Navigating the Transfer Window Dynamics
Reflecting on the recent transfer window, Lekoko notes the unexpected activity, particularly with Mamelodi Sundowns’ acquisition of four players, signaling their ambitions for the Champions League. While some anticipated a subdued period, notable departures like Thembinkosi Lorch from Orlando Pirates underscore the strategic maneuvers taking place within clubs.
A Glimpse into the Growth Trajectory
Lekoko offers insights into the evolving landscape of South African football, highlighting both progress and challenges. While the sport is experiencing rapid growth and formalization, there’s a concern that it may inadvertently exclude individuals without financial means from participation. Nonetheless, Lekoko remains optimistic about the positive trajectory of football, particularly in women’s football, where commercialization is paving the way for dominance on the global stage.
“Football is growing rapidly, but I feel that football is moving, because now it’s being formalized and it’s being structured. I feel like football is slowly moving away from people that don’t have funds to be part of academies, people that don’t have money, so that’s where I feel that we are going to lose people that generally don’t have money. Football is slowly but surely going to be for the elite, so that’s where I’m seeing it. But in terms of progress and in terms of play, it’s moving in the right direction and I’m happy with it.”
The Accessibility Dilemma
Discussing the disparity between stadium attendance and online engagement, Lekoko attributes the popularity of “Kasi” football to its accessibility, emphasizing its resonance with the masses. However, he advocates for administrative reforms within professional football to unlock its potential as a powerhouse on the international stage.
Addressing Clubbism and Nurturing Healthy Discourse
Lekoko cautions against the pitfalls of club-centric fandom, encouraging supporters to prioritize national allegiance alongside local team support. Moreover, he stresses the importance of distinguishing between banter and insults in online discourse, advocating for respectful dialogue within the football community.
“While I encourage people to support their local teams, I’m a huge follower of the DSTV premiership, and I think people should genuinely love their team and support their team. I would encourage them more to love their country. So, clubbism basically means that watching football from the eye of your team. So, everything that you watch, how you consume it, how you comment, decisions you make, your rationale, thought process, is governed by the team that you support. That can be very dangerous, because you can’t have football conversations if your limit or your reach is only through the team that. Banter is necessary. It keeps things exciting, it keeps the game exciting. However, there’s a very fine line between Banter and insults. A lot of people mask their insults using Banter, and that we should guard against. We should never condone insults as Banter. But Banter in its purest form? Go ahead, I’m for it.”
The Birth of Footy Twitter Games: A Community-Building Endeavor
The concept of footy Twitter games emerged as a creative endeavor to bridge online interactions with real-life engagements, fostering camaraderie and collaboration within the football community. Lekoko emphasizes the significance of these platforms in facilitating meaningful connections and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
“So, the idea behind footy Twitter games. Actually, I saw a tweet, it was in 2020, there was a time when we were having an engagement, and somebody tweeted and said, it would be interesting to see you guys playing on the field because they felt we just tweeted and do not play the game. So, that’s where the concept came from. If you look at the payoff line for the games is taking banter to the field. So, the banter that you type on the timeline now you will be taking it to the field. I think they’re very important in the sense that you get people that were online and didn’t have that human touch. You get them to meet and be in a place and discuss ideas. Personally, I’ve had a lot of business dealings with people that I met on the app. I’ve had a lot of career growth with people that I met on the app, and I’ve made friends with people that I met on the app. So, if people can do that, then that would be great. The whole point is to put the person behind the account in front of you, because sometimes you learn that a person that you might be fighting with, they’re a genuine person and they don’t mean any harm. It’s just that the point of view of looking at football is through the app.“
In essence, Lekoko’s insights shed light on the transformative influence of social media in Mzansi’s football landscape. From democratizing information access to fostering community engagement, social media continues to shape the discourse surrounding South African football, paving the way for a more inclusive and interconnected football community.
